General Bombers Talk Don The Stat: 100 Greatest Essendon Players Since 1980

[Blind Turn]

I was listening to this game on the radio with my dad cleaning the garage. I totally cracked the shits as Carlton hit 20 odd in front, throwing my broom on the ground and went to my mates place 7 houses away. 15 odd minutes later my Dad came running out saying we won - could not believe him until we watched the replay. I was emotional with my footy - even at that age.

I watched my first game live 2 weeks after this one - ESS vs Gee. They beat us in the wet at VFL Park and stole our double chance plus it broke a run of 16 straight wins. I was seven and I cried in the car all the way home and my old man didn’t take me to the footy again for years after that
So I understand the early emotions you speak of…

 

[Happyskeret]

I watched my first game live 2 weeks after this one - ESS vs Gee. They beat us in the wet at VFL Park and stole our double chance plus it broke a run of 16 straight wins. I was seven and I cried in the car all the way home and my old man didn’t take me to the footy again for years after that
So I understand the early emotions you speak of…

Who remembers the 1993 preliminary? I turned the telly off and just listened to Rex and it was totally unbelievable but it was totally correct.

 

[Happyskeret]

My top ten players m the 80’s gee whiz. I seen Madden he is my number 2 but I’m sorry I just can’t put him above JH. Agree with the assessments of that you could put madden all over the ground as a big bloke to stop mark and create. I have to to put J Hird 1st!!! In his early days he was good at everything but a master of nothing. He turned into a bonifide match winner. He was the Shang Tsung of the football world which is the highest level of a Jack of trades player. How many times did you see him kick those Ablett like goals from the pack? I’m sorry he was better than Madden imo.

 

[Darealrath]

Who remembers the 1993 preliminary? I turned the telly off and just listened to Rex and it was totally unbelievable but it was totally correct.

We were staying at a friend's hobby farm about 45 mins outside Bendigo, with no TV. Remember kicking the footy between fence posts pretending to be Darren Bewick while listening to the comeback on the radio.

Only found out Gav won the Brownlow when we got the paper the next morning. That was a shock! Luckily made it back to civilisation to watch the GF.

 

[Agronomus]

Who remembers the 1993 preliminary? I turned the telly off and just listened to Rex and it was totally unbelievable but it was totally correct.

My all time favourite game. Was there covered in beer getting stuck into crows fans like a true bogan

 

[Happyskeret]

My all time favourite game. Was there covered in beer getting stuck into crows fans like a true bogan

That’s fantastic. I have another admission. In 85 the granny got too much for me at 3qtr time. I think we were 27 points down or something so I went outside and started kicking a footy at the nearby cypress trees to relieve tension. Was in total disbelief when my old man came out cheering and ran laps around the house because we won. Was a lot of years later when I got to witness that running goal by one Timmy Watson. What a legend.

 

[NAB777]

How good would have Neale Daniher been without the injuries?

As good as it gets.
Put it this way - his brother is #11 in the Champions of Essendon list, and Neale was named captain before him at 20 years of age. Consensus was that he was better than his big brother.

 

[Happyskeret]

Here’s another painful thought how many goals would have Paul Salmon kicked if he didn’t do his knee?????

 

[Blind Turn]

Here’s another painful thought how many goals would have Paul Salmon kicked if he didn’t do his knee?????

In 84 there was no full back tall enough and teams had no strategy to negate him. Kick it high to the goal square he’d mark it most times. He was good on the lead, so much so that defenders couldn’t get around him. He would’ve been a century goalkicker in both 84 and 85 without doubt. After that Sheeds had him rucking a lot more and we weren’t dominating midfield like we had been. Teams worked him out a bit too and his confidence ebbed and flowed which wasn’t helped by fans and media expecting him to return to his 84 dominance.

A loved the Big Fish. He’s one we shouldn’t have let get away. Imagine his Hawthorn ruck form during our 96 and 99 tilts at a premiership. Admittedly, the trade is probably the best win-win-win trade ever and Wellman and Barnard were great additions but losing a favourite son hurt in the feels big time.

 

[Happyskeret]

In 84 there was no full back tall enough and teams had no strategy to negate him. Kick it high to the goal square he’d mark it most times. He was good on the lead, so much so that defenders couldn’t get around him. He would’ve been a century goalkicker in both 84 and 85 without doubt. After that Sheeds had him rucking a lot more and we weren’t dominating midfield like we had been. Teams worked him out a bit too and his confidence ebbed and flowed which wasn’t helped by fans and media expecting him to return to his 84 dominance.

A loved the Big Fish. He’s one we shouldn’t have let get away. Imagine his Hawthorn ruck form during our 96 and 99 tilts at a premiership. Admittedly, the trade is probably the best win-win-win trade ever and Wellman and Barnard were great additions but losing a favourite son hurt in the feels big time.

That’s a great summation Blind Turn I remember him getting booed a lot. I really felt bad for him in those times.

 

[windyhill]

This match is one of my earliest memories of the Dons.
We come back from 26 points down at the 21 minute mark against the scum who would go in to win the flag.
TD is on fire at CHB (marking, baulking, Hird like, I should have him top 3 on my list) couple of Vander highlights, Timmy going for a run, Merv doing some good things (30m handballs), Hawker absolutely killing it.
Then Neale kicks the last 2 goals to win it for us (did he do his knee the next week??)

Farrk me…this is a great 20 minutes of hard footy. Can highly recommend this to everyone.

Was on the boundary line fence. I gave up, walked to Dad...""get yourself back down there boy" Rest is history, my flag is on the footage. Ran on when the siren went, supporters going off their collective nut. Very memorable chant as the little ****wit was spotted....." tony barber, is a w***er, is a w***er, tony barber etc etc.
Joyous.
(Barber, sale of the century host, obnoxious, high profile ca&lton supporter)

 

[windyhill]

Who remembers the 1993 preliminary? I turned the telly off and just listened to Rex and it was totally unbelievable but it was totally correct.

Are you kidding?? It's embedded in my soul.